Hundreds of people turned out Saturday to pay their respects to 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze.
Family, friends and even members of the public who never knew her, showed up to say goodbye at Cleveland's Imani Temple ministries.
"This is such a young girl, this didn't have to happen," said community activist Laura Cowan. "She was minding her own business, she'll never be able to finish school, get married, go to college, have a life. This animal took her away from us"
"Babies are gifts from God, and a lot of our gifts are being taken away, and it hurts, it aches, it's devastating," said Lowanda Cushmeer, who attended the funeral.
Saturday's service was meant to give the public, and Alianna's friends and family, time to comfort each other. Time to remember Alianna.
It was as much a celebration of her life, as it was a funeral.
